She had just lost her husband of 61 years, and had been at the cemetery where he'd been cremated.
She had part of him in an urn, which was in her purse in the car.
As she left the cemetery on Wednesday, she noticed her car window was broken. Her purse – and husband's cremains – were gone.
Earlier that day, Surrey RCMP when spotted a stolen car being driven by a 43-year-old man.
Police followed until the driver eventually stopped at the cemetery located in the 14600-block of 72 Avenue.
Just as they were preparing to arrest him, they saw him walking away, then running to the car with a purse in hand.
RCMP maintained surveillance and eventually made an arrest a few blocks away when it was safe.
It is believed that he broke into the woman's car near the cemetery.
The man who was arrested was also wanted on two outstanding warrants. Additional charges of stolen property for the vehicle, stolen license plates, stolen credit cards, as well as breaching a recognizance and driving while prohibited.
“This incident demonstrates that those who are involved in theft of vehicles are very often involved in additional criminal behavior such as; theft from vehicle, break and enter and robbery," said Surrey RCMP Cpl. Scotty Schumann. “We are very grateful that we were able to act swiftly to return the stolen items to the person who owned them, she was already going through a grieving period having just lost her husband."
Anyone with more information is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), if they wish to remain anonymous.